August 24, 2012

Trevon Lampley is so smooth, so quick and so explosive that the second part of his first name vanished in his repeated bursts into the end zone.

OK, not really, but you get the drift. Lampley, a senior do-all leader for Franklin High School football, prefers to go by Tre and not the regularly published Trevon.

How about we call him Playmaker?

Lampley had two first-half interceptions inside his team's 10-yard line and then produced four touchdowns in a show of versatility to key a 38-28 triumph over Thousand Oaks in the Battle for Veterans opener Friday night in Loomis.

Lampley scored on a 10-yard run, an 81-yard punt return and receptions of 9 and 48 yards from senior quarterback Trent Spallas as the Wildcats of Elk Grove kicked off a season of great promise with a strong showing against a playoff regular from Southern California.

Franklin bolted to a 24-0 halftime lead before the Lancers of Ventura County got on track. Clark Abourisk passed for 346 yards and four touchdowns, hitting A.J. Sheehan seven times for 158 yards and three scores.

Franklin is coming off a breakthrough 8-4 season, earning the program's first playoff win with a spirited rally at Nevada Union. Seventeen starters returned for coach Mike Johnson, who has a bevy of backs and skill players to unleash, not to mention a strong offensive line.

Johnson said it was an honor to be invited to the showcase event that also includes Del Oro taking on Oaks Christian later Friday and Granite Bay against Westlake in Saturday's capper.

"We're here because of what we did last year as we've slowly arrived," Johnson said. "To think what's happened in the last five years is amazing for Sacramento football. Grant winning the state title (in 2008) totally changed the landscape of area football. We've always been in the shadow of Southern California but Grant broke that glass ceiling."

But this is one game, Johnson reminded his team.

"Everyone is telling us how great we are but we have to show it on the field," Johnson said.

For good stretches against Thousand Oaks, Franklin showed plenty. The Wildcats rushed for 193 yards and held the Lancers to minus 4, thanks in large part to four sacks, two by Joey Banks.

Banks also rushed for 46 yards on eight carries. Kyran Harris rushed for 59 on nine, Christian Fonbuena had 50 in 16 and Lampley 23 in 3. - By Joe Davidson- On Twitter: @SacBee_JoeDOn Facebook: sacbeeprepsOn TV: Fox 40's Final Quarter tonight from 11-11:30 p.m.On the net: surewestsports.comOn podcasts: ESPN1320.netOn the radio: live each Saturday morning from 9-10 a.m. on ESPN1320 on the SureWest Sports Radio Show with Mike Finnerty.

Bee photo by Randall Benton: The Wildcats' Trevon Lampley (18) evades a tackle by the Lions' Anthony Sandoval (22) as he returns a punt for a touchdown in the first half during the game between the Thousand Oaks High School Lancers, and the Franklin High School Wildcats at Del Oro High School in Loomis on Friday, August 24, 2012.

About the Prep blog

Bee staff writers Joe Davidson and Bill Paterson provide news, analysis and insight on the area high school sports scene in their Prep Blog. Have a question to ask them? Send them an email any time at jdavidson@sacbee.com or bpaterson@sacbee.com.